Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dilemma about dates of visitor

21 replies

WordOfTheDay · Yesterday 20:36

I'm confused about what to do in this situation. I live in a different European country. My brother recently mentioned that he would like to come and visit me and my DP (he has been over for very short trips a couple of times with his then young sons years ago). I said that he is more than welcome, but would need to stay in a hotel and as we are not set up for guests. That's no problem. We live outside a small town with no hotel and he would be staying in a hotel that is a bit away.

My DP is retired and is organising a day with his extended family (30 people): lunch at our house on 4 July and devising a puzzle car rally (he is away now and can only resume work on this mid-month). My brother would like to come between now and the end of June (I had said June was fine to him). My DP has always been iffy about a visit in that period as he feared he/we would be tied up with the preparations, but he reluctantly agreed that my brother could come then after my brother said it would be the perfect time for him. Today, my brother has come back with dates and is suggesting 4/5 days, which is longer than I thought it be would.

I am now a concerned about the length, and my partner is concerned as he might not be free and he doesn't want the pressure hanging over him. I feel awful about asking my brother to reschedule until after the rally, having led him up until now to believe that we were enthusiastic about this period (he is off work from 19 June to the end of the month). Having discussed with my DP, he strongly wants me to tell my brother it doesn't suit after all. I feel it's very difficult to do that having encouraged him up until now. I think my brother will probably have more work pressure over the summer, although I also know he gets a few days off fortnightly or something (he's a pilot).

My DP is now annoyed that I am so resistant to simply explaining it doesn't suit, but up until my brother suggested his dates today, we had accepted in our minds that he was coming over in this period (but had mistakely assumed for only 2/3 days). I don't know what to do: basically tell my brother not to come until after the rally (very unpleasant of me after all that has been said) or talk to him and possibly accept he comes before the rally (if it is much preferable for him due to his work commitments), but thereby not prioritise my DP's reasable wish to set other dates and put him under pressure he never wanted in the first place. In the couse of discussions today, my DP's position has hardened.

I only have a slightly distant relationship with my brother, so I am not at ease

Help!

OP posts:
Quitelikeit · Yesterday 20:38

Surely your brother does not demand your full attention for five days solid?

WordOfTheDay · Yesterday 20:41

I think he might (which seriously scares me, as I don't like to socialise a huge amount). He's coming to visit us and he won't have a car and his hotel isn't on a good bus line.

OP posts:
HumanOfTheWeek · Yesterday 20:42

You aren’t at ease because you haven’t changed your mind about your brother coming and because your partner is treating you badly. Don’t change anything and if your partner doesn’t want to join in your plans, fair enough.
It doesn’t take long to plan a family meal and activity and you don’t have to be at home to do all the planning. It sounds like a manipulative excuse.
Feels a bit German or Nordic in style? Just a guess.

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · Yesterday 20:44

So basically your dp is saying your
1 family member can’t come because his is?

kiwiane · Yesterday 20:46

Your partner sounds really negative and you’re messing your brother around. It’s maybe best he knows he’s not really welcome.

WordOfTheDay · Yesterday 20:47

My DP is sociable so would be a major help to me during my brother's stay. Devising the puzzle tour is a big job, but mainly it's the possible time pressure he would (understandably) prefer to avoid.

OP posts:
m00rfarm · Yesterday 20:48

I think your partner is being really precious about his 4th July do. Just let him et on with it and you deal with your brother. How comes HIS family gets to be a priority over YOUR family.

I actually feel sorry for your brother that he has a sibling who cannot prioritise a visit and only cares about her in law family.

hahabahbag · Yesterday 20:49

It doesn’t take 2 weeks to work out an event for his family. Anyway why does he need to spend the whole trip with your brother, surely he spends the planned 3 days and the final 2 you entertain him yourself

hahabahbag · Yesterday 20:50

Anyway, couldn’t your brother tag along helping to devise part of the tour? Might be a good option for a day

Crunchymum · Yesterday 20:51

So your DP gets his event with his 30 people and your brother has to rearrange a trip for dates already agreed?

And your DP isn't willing to compromise?

Not good.

VIII · Yesterday 20:52

Your partner sounds incredibly controlling. Your brother wants to visit for 4/5 days it's hardly a significant period of time. You don't have to listen to him just because he says no. His wishes don't override yours.

WaltzingWaters · Yesterday 20:56

your DP sounds like a selfish prick.
Let your brother come and visit at the time that is suitable and already agreed. It’s only 5 days, please just enjoy it with him.

StunHun · Yesterday 21:04

Surely there’s not a massive difference between three days, and four or five?

If I were your brother, I’d be very upset that you’re changing the plans because you want to be able to dedicate weeks to planning hospitality for 30 people, but aren’t willing to be hospitable to him.

Is it a case that you love at your boyfriend’s house and feel like you really have no say in who is allowed visit?

Vartden · Yesterday 21:14

If this puzzle rally is so time consuming to organise ,bin it and go for a walk instead. Your brother is flying over to see you. Surely you want to spend time with him.

Oneinamelon · Yesterday 21:27

What is a puzzle car rally?

BettyscakeShop · Yesterday 21:44

I just asked chatgpt to design one in my local area and tada… 5 mins and it’s done! Ok I could tweak it and make changes but likely could be done in a day at most!

HumanOfTheWeek · Yesterday 21:45

Are you sure it’s understandable, or does your partner just have you trained to see things his way? He’s putting an elaborate planning exercise for his family over seeing your brother at all.
I‘ve planned a lot of large scale treasure hunts over the years and even before the internet it wasn’t a big job. It’s very easy now.

FruitFlyPie · Yesterday 21:51

Ya both bu, your dp is being a bit mean but at the same time, why is the visit his responsibility to host or have much to do with at all really. DP might be "more social" but it's your brother.

MiddleLaneLife · Today 00:49

@WordOfTheDay just tell brother you can’t wait to see him but unfortunately you’ll only be free for a maximum of 4 days as you have to help DH arrange the rally etc…

IndigoBluey · Today 01:13

@Oneinamelon right, are we the only ones? My tired brain puts it like lockdown puzzles and formula 1. I’m sure it is far more exciting

canklesmctacotits · Today 01:19

Why can’t you look after your brother yourself? Would that be worse than telling him not to come?

Why can your brother, an actual pilot, not navigate a route with a poor bus line?

Even if he can’t and you have to bring him back and forth, why can he not get stuck in helping organize a tour what with being good with directions etc?

Why does your partner need you to watch him while he does something for 5 days?

Why can’t you spend time with your brother during the day and meet up as a group for dinners?

I really can’t see the problem. This all sounds like much ado about nothing.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page